(RV) Milligan Baseball Finishes off KCU to Take First AAC Series

MILLIGAN, Tenn. — On Monday afternoon, the (RV) Milligan University baseball team concluded their opening series of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play against Kentucky Christian University on Anglin Field. The Buffaloes rode a strong day from the pitching staff to a three-run victory, 6-3, to earn a series triumph.

It was another slow start to the contest for the two offenses, similar to game two on Sunday, as only one run was scored in the first three innings. That tally came via a sacrifice fly by Reagan Smith to brijng home Josh Lail, making it 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

Kentucky Christian rallied to score a run in the top of the fourth on a single through the left side with a runner on third base. The score would be 1-1 at that point, but would quickly change, as Milligan brought four runs across in the bottom half of the fourth. Lail mashed a solo homer to right to lead off the frame. Then, with Gaven Jones at second and Smith at first, the pitcher tried to pick off Jones at second, which worked well. However, the pitcher's toss to third base sailed over the thrid baseman, allowing Jones to score and Smith to move up from first to third. A sac fly from Andrew Beavers would follow, scoring Smith. Finally, Cade Kalehuawehe hit a solo shot as a bookend to the stanza, making it 5-1.

The Buffaloes tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth, as Jack Sutton delivered a pinch-hit sac fly to center to score Jones, making it 6-1.

In the battle's last frame, the Knights did not back down, as they put a ton of pressure on the MU defense, which led to one earned and one unearned run in the inning. That would be all, however, as KCU was stopped in a 6-3 loss to the Buffs.

Lail (2-for-4, HR, 2B, RBI, 2 R), Smith (2-for-2, RBI, R, SB), Angel Lobo (2-for-4, BB, SB) and Bryce Burkey (2-for-4) each had multiple-hit days in the win.

Spencer Rife hurled a strong eight innings of two-run work from the slab, allowing just six hits and striking out four hitters. He earned his third win of the campaign. Austin Maxey closed the door with his second save of the season, while allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Next up on the docket is a non-conference tilt on Tuesday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn. It will be the first road contest of the season for Milligan. They will battle Johnson University in a nine-inning game at 4 p.m., looking to jump to 12-5 on the year.